Hydraulic transmission



Dec. 8, 11942. o, W THER 2,304,721

HYDRAULIC TRANSMI SS ION Filed Feb '1, 1941 4 Sheets-Shget 1 x? A5 1 I B A9 /4 l I l I i 4- ll a- I 5 F C I w I .1

INVENTOR. BY 00m WE'ETHEE F76. 2 am 2; M

ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1942. o. WERTHER 2,304,721

HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Filed Feb. 1, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

fa 1gp WM QM Dec, 8, 1942 0. WERTHER HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION 4 Sheer, 3

Filed Fe 1' 41 WWW 15m MW? M EYj Patented Dec. 8, 1942 HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Odin Werther, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Ohio, a.- corporation of Ohio Application February-1, 1941, Serial No. 377,036

3 Claims. (01. 102- 15) The present invention relates to hydraulic power transmitting apparatus wherein power is transmitted from one member to another by a plurality of vane wheels rotating in a liquid. More particularly, the invention relates to the construction of the vane wheels and to the method of making the same.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved vane Wheel or wheels for use in hydraulic power transmitting devices, which vane wheels will be simple and rugged in construction, light in weight, efficient -in operation, and easy and inexpensive to manufacture by mass production methods.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved method of making vane Company, Cleveland,

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the vane shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is. a sectional view on the line I|,0 of

, I3--I3 of-Fig. 14, with portions in elevation;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the turbine wheel shown in Fig. 1, approximately on the line l4|.4

wheels used in hydraulic power transmittin devices, which method is adapted to mass production methods and wherein the vanes per se are made separate from the supporting structur or wheels and are securely and permanently connected thereto in a simple, convenient and inexpensive manner.

The present invention relates to certain de-.

tails of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, with parts in elevation, of the vane wheel portion of a hydraulic power transmitting device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective expanded view of the vane wheels shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of one of the vanes of the impeller wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as it appears prior to assembly with the supporting shell;

Fig. 4 is a front elevationalview of the vane shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the vane shown in Fig.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a portion of the impeller wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with parts omitted to better show the construction;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of one of the vanes of the reaction wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as it appears prior to assembly with th supporting shell;

of Fig. 13, with portions in elevation;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the blades of the turbine wheel shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

, Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line n-|1 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on the line Iii-l8 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line 19-19 of Fig. 15.;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 21 is a sectional'view on the line 21-21 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view showing a turbine wheel of modified construction approximately on the line 22-22 ofFig. 23, with-portions in elevation;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view approximately on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22, with portions in elevation;

Fig. 24 is a sectional view showing a turbine wheel of a difierent modified construction approximately on the line 24-24 of Fig. 25, with portions in elevation; and

Fig. 25 is a sectional view approximately on the line 25-25 of Fig. 2,4, with portions in elevation Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the vane wheel portionof a hydraulic power trans;

mitting device embodying the present invention.

e hydraulic power transmission device shown in Fig. 1 is similar to that shown in a copencling application of Robert 0. Russell, Serial No. 319,926 filed February 20, 1940, except for the construction of the vane wheels, and only that part of the transmission which is necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention is herein shown and described. For a description of the entire transmission, reference is made to the aforesaid application.

The transmission shown is of the three-element type comprising an impeller wheel, designated generally by the reference character A, connected as by bolts III to the crankshaft I I of an internal combustion engine; a reaction wheel B mounted on an overrunning clutch which holds the same against reverse rotation relative to the,direction of rotation of the impeller wheel while leaving it free to revolve in the opposite direction; and a vane wheel interposed between the impeller wheel A and the reaction wheel B, and operatively connected to the driven shaft, not" shown. While the transmission shown is referred to herein as being of the three-element type, provision is made or connecting the reaction wheel 13 to the impell wheel A in which event the transmission operates as a two-element hydraulic transmission, ordinarily referred to as a fluid clutch,"all as is fully explained in the aforesaid application.

The impeller wheel A comprises a supporting structure or shell l2 dished as illustrated to form an annular recess l3, semi-circular in cross-section, opening axially of the impeller wheel, and

within which a series of blades 14, preferably sheet metal stampings,-are securely and permanently flxed.

and semi-circular in shape to conform with the recess l3 in which the vanes are positioned. As previously stated, the recess l3 opens axially oi the vane wheel and the vanes M which are positioned radially therein have semi-circular cutout portions ii in their straight sides which conform to and accommodate one'side of a core rin or a turbine blade mounting ring I6 forming a part of the turbine wheel C. As shown, the upper and lower ends of the vanes-l4 are provided with relatively small projections or gs ll formed integral thereon which engage w n suitable apertures or slots l8 formed in the supporting shell l2 around the periphery of the recess l3. In addition to the lugs l'l, each of the vanes l4 v includes a relatively large extension or projection 19 formed integral therewith and projecting at right angles to the main body portion of the vane. The projections l9 fit into a groove 20' formed in the rear wa the recess l3 and are of such a length that th y properly space the vanes. In other words, t e free end of the projection l8 engages the side of the adjoining vane which'isadjacent thereto.

The-extensions or projections I! are preferably initially curved transversely, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and as the vanes are assembled with the shell l2, the projections I! are located in the grooves 20, after which the projections are hammered or otherwise made flat expanding the same into tight engagement with the sides of the groove 20 which fixedly secures the projections 19 and in turn tine vanes H in .'the shell l2. The outer ends of the vanes ll are secured in the shell [2 by peening or otherwise forcing the metal of the shell adjacent the slots l8 over the lugs l1, thus closing or partly closing theslots or openings 18 after the vanes are in position.

If desired, means other than scribed for securing the vanes ll within the shell l2, such as welding, 'may be employed, or the -means shown may be supplemented with welding, for example, the. projectionslis and/or the lugs ll can be weldedtothe shell I2. Fig. 7 shows the projections l9 spot welded at 2| to the shell i2. The depth of the groove I8 is such that after the projections are in position, their exposed surfaces are flush with the inside of the that already deshell I2, making a continuous surface which will is constructed in a similar manner. The only difierence between the two wheels insofar as the vane assembly is concerned is the difierence in the shape of the vanes. Where the vanes ll of the impeller wheel are substantially flat, the vanes 22 of the reaction wheel are curved in the manner showndn Figs. 8, 10 and 11. Like the vanes l|,'the vanes 22 are provided without-out portions 23 to accommodate the opposite side ofthe core-ring or turbine blade mounting ring it. The blades 22 are preferably flxed in the supporting shell 23 of the reaction wheel in the same manner thatthe blades H are fixed in the supporting shell i 2. The impeller and reaction wheels A and B face in opposite directions and the turbine wheel C which comprises two radially spaced series of vanes 25 and 26 separated by the core-ring I6 is located therebetween. The

construction is such that when the transmission is operated as a torque, converter, a substantially closed, circular path is forriied through which the fluid circulates in the direction-indicated by the arrows, see Fig. i.

The vanes 25 and 26 of the turbine wheel C are preferably equal in. number and formed integral as shown in Fig. 15. In other words, each turbine blade, designated generally by the reference character 21, comprises two. vane portions 25 and 26 connected by an intermediate portion 28. The turbine blades are preferably assembled with the supporting hub 29 or internal planetary gear in one of three ways.

witha semi-circular lug 30 on the radially inner ends thereof which flt into suitable semi-circular grooves iii in the periphery or the member 29.

After the vanes are assembled with the member through which theintermediate portions 28 of the blades" project.

-The?core-ring I6 comprises two parts secured together by spacers 34 and rivets 35,.any suit-. able number of core-ring I5 is preferably either a die casting or which may be provided. The

a sheet metal stamping and the two-part .construction 'aifords easy assembly with the turbine blades. When the turbine blades extend through the core-ring l6, the'ring is provided with apertures which conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bladesa d asthe two halves of the ring are drawn together, the blades are securely clamped therein. Preferably the vane portions 25 of the turbine blades are made hollow as shown in Fig. 21 to reduce the weight as much as possible while the rest of the blades, including the connecting portions 29 which are of reduced cross section, are made solid. The assembly of the turbine wheel is completed by shrinking a turbine blade ring or shroud ring 38in place about the outer ends of the'tui'bine blades; The I ring" 35 has portions 31 and 38 formed integral therewith which overlie the adjacent edges'of the impeller and reaction wheels respectively.

As shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 the turbine blades are formed As an alternative construction for the turbine wheel, the inner ends of the turbine blades may be dovetailed and fit into suitable slots in the supporting hub, and/or the outer ends of the blades may be rounder or made in some irregular shape. Figs. 22 and 23 show a construction comprising blades 40 similar to the blades 30 except for the dovetailed projections 4| on their inner ends and the shape of their outer ends. The projections 4| .fit into suitable slots 42 formed in the supporting hub or member 43 and are fixedly oeld therein by a mounting ring 44 bolted as by the bolts 45 to the member 43. In assembling the turbine wheel shown in Figs. 22 and 23, the blades are preferably first assembled in the outside turbine blade ring 46 which is shaped to conform to the curved outer ends 41 of the blades, after which the two-part corering or the turbine blade mounting ring it is assembled therewith and secured in place. With the use of a suitable expanding tool, the assembly can then be mounted on the supporting hub or member 43 and locked in place by the mounting ring 44. It is to be understood that with this construction, the hub member 43 and the mounting ring 44 are recessed to form suitable grooves for receiving and securely holding the dovetailed portions 4| of the turbine blades.

The turbine blades are preferably die castings and if desired a plurality of blades may be cast together and integrally connected by portions which form the outside turbine blade ring and/or a part of the core-ring. This construction is shown in Figs. 24 and 25. As shgwyn in these figures, three blades, designated ge e ally as 50,

are formed integral and the adjacent ends of the ring 44 and the section 55 of the core-ring. The

section 55 of the core-ring shown in Figs. 24 and 25 is in the form of an annular ring adapted to be secured to the blade segments by bolts 56. Intel-fitting abutting surfaces on the sections 54 and 55, which together form the core-ring, align r 3 the blade segments and make the assembly more rigid.

From the foregoing description of the preferred' embodiment of the invention, it will'bc apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided novel and in aroved vane wheels and methods. of constructing the same which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture and are adaptable to mass production methods.

. limited to the particular construction shown or to any particular type of transmission, and it is my intention to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which tions connected by an intermediate member,

means for connecting said blades to said supporting member, an annularmember forming a por-' tion of the core ring of said vane wheel connected to said intermediate portion 61 said blades, and an annular member or shroud ring surrounding said blades and .connecting the ends thereof. 7

2. A vane wheel for a hydraulic power transmitting device, said vane \wheel comprising a supporting member or hub, a plurality of blades nular member or shroud ring surrounding said blades and connecting the ends thereof.

3. A vane wheel for a hydraulic power transmitting device, said vane wheel comprising a supporting member or hub, a plurality of blades each having a plurality of radially spaced vane sections connected by an intermediate portion,

means for connecting said blades to said supporting member, a two-part core ring connected to said intermediate portion of said blades, and an annular member or shroud ring surrounding said blades and engaging the ends thereof. I

, ODIN WERTH'ER. 

